Gaia Community: heemes' Blog

Tiger in the Room

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:41:03 GMT

“Imagine all of you are hypnotized to believe there is a tiger in this room. In your fear you will try to escape it, to fight it, to protect yourselves from it, to placate it. But once the spell is broken, there is nothing to be done. And you are all radically changed. So understanding breaks the spell, the broken spell brings change..."

-by Rev. Anthony De Mello
http://www.demello.org

Tags: protect, change, magic, transformation

How do you define power?

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:57:24 GMT

Power Over doesn't belong here.

Power With does.

Healing is Power With. Reaching Out is Power With.

Tags: Q&R, power

Nathaniel's Words to Live By

http://heemes.gaia.com — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:46:49 GMT

Some of you may recall my note to Rachel, my niece who turned 13 a couple years ago. Here is my note to Nathaniel, my nephew, on the occasion of his 13th birthday next month.

-----------------------

Nathaniel,

In the book "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the relationship of three brothers is explored. The first brother, Dmitri, is said to represent the body symbolically (he is a soldier). Ivan, the second brother, a student at university, represents the mind of humanity. The youngest brother, Alyosha, is a monk, so he represents the spirit or soul. My words of wisdom to you are excerpts from the passage known as the Sermon by the Stone near the end of the book, where Alyosha speaks to his young charges on the occasion of the death of a classmate of theirs...

'...And whatever may befall us subsequently in life - even though we do not meet for twenty years hereafter - all the same let us remember how we buried the poor boy, the one at whom you formerly threw stones, do you remember, down there by the bridge? - but whom everyone came to love so later. He was a wonderful boy, kind and brave boy, he had a sense of honour... Know then that there is nothing more lofty, nor more powerful, nor more healthy nor more useful later on in life than some good memory, and particularly one that has been borne from childhood, from one's parents' home. Much is said to you about your education, but a beautiful sacred memory like that, one preserved from childhood, is possibly the very best education of all.'

'Let us, in the first place and above all, be kind, then honest, and then - let us never forget one another. This I repeat again. I give you my word, gentlemen, that I shall never forget a single one of you; each face that gazes on me now, this moment, I shall remember, even though it be for thirty years. All of you, gentlemen, are dear to me from this day, all of you I shall enclose within my heart, as I ask you to enclose me within yours.'

Blessings, Nathaniel. Live long and well.

With kindness, honesty, and memory,

Uncle Paul

Tags:

Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver

http://heemes.gaia.com — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:51:50 GMT

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Tags: poetry, Mary Oliver, wild geese, truth

How did your grandparents meet?

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:50:17 GMT

This QaR was originally posted the day after my 46th birthday, my second out here in Arizona.

I asked my mom yesterday about this. Here is the story.

My grandmother, whom we affectionately call Mimi, was attending dance class at a local school in Detroit, MI. She was 20 years of age. Her brother, my great uncle Gordon, was having a party on Saturday with some of his friends from the neighborhood. As Mimi arrived home, she noticed the party was in progress. So she went upstairs, changed out of her dance clothes, and joined the party.

A young man named Fred saw this pretty Irish girl and he started talking to her. This conversation went on for quite a while. Near the end of the party, he did something rather forward. He asked her if he could drive her home, which was the custom of young men to demonstrate their interest in a young lady. Mimi responded, "This is my home." Fred was surprised since Gordon had never mentioned his sister to him. They both started laughing.

Three years later, on a beautiful August afternoon, they became married.

Tags: QaR, love, grandparents, family, parents

What does enlightenment mean to you?

http://heemes.gaia.com — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:56:11 GMT

To me, Enlightenment means 'oneness' with nothing left out or ignored/dismissed.

Tags: QaR, enlightenment, spirituality, self

Madonna - Rain (was Various)

http://heemes.gaia.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:52:04 GMT

~~A couple~~ One of my favorite Madonna videos. Feelin' that way. :-)

Madonna - Rain

Darn YouTube police! LOL

Madonna - Don't Tell Me

Tags: madonna, music, love, rain, don't tell me, eclectic excellence

HAI Mission Statement

http://heemes.gaia.com — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:17:56 GMT

The Human Awareness Institute (HAI) empowers individuals to be potent, loving, contributing human beings. HAI promotes personal growth and social evolution by replacing ignorance and fear with awareness and love.

HAI aims to create a world where people live together in dignity, respect, understanding, trust, kindness, compassion, honesty and love. The Human Awareness Institute is committed to creating a world where everyone wins.

http://www.hai.org/mission_statement.php

Tags: hai, mission statement, truth, learning

Transforming (thanks for your kindness, Nicole)

http://heemes.gaia.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:30:35 GMT

PENITENCE

1

SINCE foolishness and sin
In my found origin
In all my lifetime, none
Through me to pleasure won.

I look for equity,
Which none obtains from me;
Against the world I cry,
The world's complaint am I.

2

Alas, alas! from em
Springs all inequity;
Ah woe! a thousand sighs
Through my injustice rise.

'For what thy hands have wrought:'
So have the Scriptures taught;
Then is my soul forlorn
Whereof all grief was born.

~The Rubaiyat of Jalal Al-Din Rumi
Select translations
into English Verse' by A.J. Arberry, 1949.

(April 18, 2009 note: I have removed a person's name from the title of this blog per that person's request)

Tags: transform, alchemy, gaian angst, power

Love, Serve and Remember

http://heemes.gaia.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:11:31 GMT

Love, Serve and Remember: Performed By: Ross Priluker

Tags: love, serve, remember, john astin, ross priluker, challenge day, baba ram dass

Gleaned from Jodi's Blog - Miniature Earth

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:08:52 GMT

I gave it seeds, but no comment for, I believe, it needs none. It stands on its own.

Miniature Earth

Social Justice exists.

Tags: social justice, blog, earth, jodi paul

What (or who) is waiting for you?

http://heemes.gaia.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:28:09 GMT

There is an old Challenge Day aphorism that goes:

"Be The Hero You've Been Waiting For"

I guess that's me. :-)

Tags: QaR, waiting, patience, wait, purpose

From Wildly Gentle Martha - Connecting Creatively (in Tandem)

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:09:22 GMT

...here's the deal:

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. None whatsoever.
2. What I create will be just for you, with respect.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. It may be edible. It may be ugly.
5. I reserve the right to do something strange. It will probably not involve cheese.
6. In return, all you need to do is nothing. Well, a smile would be great.

If you're one of the first 5 people to respond and repost, I will send you a message later to get your mailing address.

Read more: Connecting Creatively by Martha Bergin — Gaia Community - http://communitybuilder.gaia.com/blog/2009/3/connecting_creatively#ixzz0BvRDRBG8

Tags: connections, creativity, friendship

Why Livejournal Beats Facebook, Myspace, and even Gaia...

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:02:23 GMT

...when it comes to Friends and understanding relationships between people.

Almost all the social networks allow a simple "We're Friends" connection. In this environment, we're either mutual friends or not friends at all. Something is either present or not.

However, LJ allows two more possibilities for friendship connections, each being a one-way friendship. This rings truer based on my own experience in the real world.

In other words, how many times have you thought, "I am more a friend to him/her than (s)he is to me."?

Tags: friends, social networks, online, truth

How could you answer the question, "What do you do?"

http://heemes.gaia.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:55:39 GMT

I do my best to undo doing and create being. There is no need to do when being is present. All flows from my be-ing's essence. (sometime a little lesson in not taking another person's inventory helps me too)

Tags: QaR, doing, work, life, living

Snow Patrol: Crack the Shutters

http://heemes.gaia.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:14:51 GMT

These are amazing lyrics, gotta share!
>
>
> You cool your bed-warm hands down on the broken radiator,
>
> And when you lay them freezing on me, I mumble "can you wake me later?"
>
> But I don't really want you to stop and you know it so it doesn't stop
> you
>
> And run your hands from my neck to my chest
>
>
>
> Crack the shutters open wide, I wanna bathe you in the light of day
>
> And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
>
> I could sit for hours finding new ways to be awed each minute
>
> Cuz' the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you
>
>
>
> It's been minutes, it's been days, it's been all I will remember
>
> Happy lost in your hair and the cold side of the pillow
>
> Your hills and valleys are mapped by my intrepid fingers
>
> And in a naked slumber, I dream all this again
>
>
>
> Crack the shutters open wide, I wanna bathe you in the light of day
>
> And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
>
> I could sit for hours finding new ways to be awed each minute
>
> Cuz' the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you
>
>
>
> Crack the shutters open wide, I wanna bathe you in the light of day
>
> And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
>
> I could sit for hours finding new ways to be awed each minute
>
> Cuz' the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you

Tags: Snow Patrol, Crack the Shutters, beautiful lyrics

Revelation: An Ego-Driven World Looks Like...

http://heemes.gaia.com — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:02:59 GMT

Per Eckhart Tolle in A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, an ego-driven world has three types of relationships in it, categorized like this:

1. Wanting (i.e. What do I want from you?)
2. Thwarted Wanting (i.e. If I'm not getting what I want from you, but I might, what do I feel? [possible answers are anger, resentment, blaming, or complaining])
3. Indifference (i.e. If I'm not getting what I want from you and I know I won't, then I just don't care about you)

In my life, how many relationships of the past could be summarized this way? Countless.

This is a continuation of my conscious evolution here on Gaia (and gaia.com). In fact, I'll link from there to here!

Tags: conscious evolution, acknowledging ego, release, Eckhart Tolle

Sayings About Friendship

http://heemes.gaia.com — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:18:33 GMT

I've heard it said, "Friends are like money in the bank, the longer you keep them, the more they are worth."

I'd like to add a new notion to this pattern today with what I think is an original thought. Google it and tell me I'm wrong. I tried and found nothing.

It is this, "Friends are like money in the bank; if you don't withdraw, then they'll keep giving interest."

Nice one, eh?

Tags: friends, quote, money, bank

Haiku Poem

http://heemes.gaia.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:30:40 GMT

Cats know the secret,
Be Now is the key to grace,
Listen. look, smell, POUNCE!

Tags: haiku, cats, funny

What if we can't save the world?

http://heemes.gaia.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:41:30 GMT

I agree with A; the world maybe doesn't need saving. I believe we do.

Tags: QaR, hope, world, future